Lint and fuzz on blankets can be stubborn, especially with wool or textured fabrics. This guide compiles highly actionable methods, organized by effectiveness and practicality, to help you remove fuzz quickly and keep blankets looking fresh.
The Most Effective Lint Removal Methods
Scouring Pad: Who knew scouring pads - you know, the scratchy green ones you use to scrub your pots and pans - could also get rid of fuzz and lint on your clothes? Just dampen a scouring pad to soften it, then scrub off the lint like a pro. I found this method to be very effective because it’s so quick and effective - plus, who doesn’t already have a scrub sponge on hand? I was also happy that this method helped lightly clean the surface of my wool hats and jackets without submerging them, which could potentially stretch the time between dry cleaning trips.
Wool Dryer Ball: Wool dryer balls can help reduce lint in your laundry loads - but they can also be supereffective in stripping lint off dry clothes as well. To use them, just rub a clean dryer ball across your lint-covered fabric. I was honestly shocked to see just how effective and easy it was to remove lint this way.
Dryer Sheet (wet): It makes sense that dryer sheets, with all their antistatic laundry properties, would have the power to remove lint from your clothes even when used outside of the dryer. But while some online sources claim you can just wipe a dry dryer sheet on the item for instant lint-free results, I found this to be a blatant lie. The dryer sheet method works only when you wet it, first. Ring it out until it’s barely damp, and then rub it over your clothes. When I first did this, I was actually terrified that I had ruined my linty hat with the gross, gooey-looking gunk the dryer sheet left smeared all over my hat. But then I wiped that gunk away with a damp towel followed by a dry, lint-free towel (you might also try a blow-dryer), and it came out pretty darn clean - and it smelled like it just came back from the dry cleaner.
Masking Tape: Fresh out of lint roller sheets and covered in fluff or dog hair? Fret not: Masking tape can do the trick. Just use the sticky side of a piece of masking tape to pick up each piece of lint to score a fur-free outfit! This trick worked great for me, which makes sense when you think about it - masking tape has the same sticky power as those handy lint rollers, only it doesn’t roll. The only problem is that tape can loose stick quickly, so you’ll need to switch pieces of tape frequently. If you go this route, I recommend using the widest tape you can fine, preferably 3 inches wide, to make the work go faster.
Air-Only Dryer Setting: Put on an all-black outfit only to discover it’s covered in lint? Don’t panic. Just toss it in the dryer with a clean dryer sheet and run the “air only” setting to rid your clothing of all that lint in a pinch. While this method didn’t work perfectly for me when I tried it, it certainly did help de-lint my pullover jacket. I may not recommend this as your only means of lint removal, but if you don’t want to spend all day removing lint manually, it could certainly be a useful first step to make the rest of the process easier.
Methods We Don’t Recommend
Distilled White Vinegar in the Rinse Cycle: Adding a cup of distilled white vinegar to your laundry during the final rinse cycle can help remove fuzz from sweaters and bath towels. The problem? Even though the method is effective, most washing machine manufacturers advise against using vinegar in their appliances because it can damage the seals.
Washing Clothes Inside Out: Washing your clothes inside out is a good method for preventing lint and pills from forming in the first place. I usually wash my jeans and tees inside out to help reduce wear on the outer fabric, which helps protect my beloved tee graphics. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I don’t have much lint or pilling on my clothing. But as a method for removing lint from clothing once it gets there, I was underwhelmed by the results when I tried it out. It may work if you’re washing a load of all fuzzy sweaters, though.
Contact Paper or Drawer Liners: Sitting on a roll of contact paper or a pack of self-adhesive drawer liners? You could use the sticky side to remove lint, much like you’d use masking tape or a lint roll. It worked when I tested it. But it’s an extravagant way to use expensive contact paper, no? And anyway, how often do you happen to have contact paper but no lint roller, masking tape, dryer balls, or clean scrubbing sponges? This method just seems wasteful.
Is It Lint or Pills?
It’s important to recognize that while pilling may look like lint, it’s a different beast altogether. Pilling occurs when little linty pieces of fabric raise up and get knotted up with the still-attached fibers. It most commonly happens in areas where clothing rubs together. Lint, on the other hand, is just little tiny pieces of fibers, dust, or other materials that collect on the surface of your clothing. It is loose and typically sticks with friction, making it slightly annoying to remove, but still easier than pills. Most of the methods above won’t work for pilling, so if that’s your problem, try these pill removal tips instead.
The Worst Lint-Removal “Hack”
When I tried this method on a coat I noticed a little lint coming off - and a lot of white pumice stone powder sticking to my black fabric. Aside from that, I felt like I was damaging the fabric and would likely rub a hole in my coat if I kept going. It may be all right to use on a very thick, sturdy, light-colored cotton or linen, but proceed with caution.
How to Prevent Lint on Your Clothes
Of course, the easiest way to deal with lint is to prevent it altogether. Wash similar fabrics together. Towels and sweaters are notorious lint shedders. Turn clothes inside out. Clean your lint trap often. A clogged dryer screen makes lint more likely to redeposit on clothes. Use dryer balls or sheets. Air-dry when possible.
- Tested approaches include scouring pads, wool dryer balls, dampened dryer sheets, masking tape, and the “air only” dryer setting.
- Less favorable options include vinegar in rinse, washing inside out for lint removal, and using contact paper as a lint remover.
